Papal Addresses to the Bishops of France

Papal Addresses to the Bishops of France

Pope Benedict XVI

Addresses by the Holy Father to the Bishops of France, 2012, in Rome for their ad limina visit (to the threshold, i.e., of the tombs of Ss Peter and Paul), when they are required to submit a five-year report. The papal addresses are noteworthy for their topics of current concern.

1. First Ad Limina Address to the Bishops of France
A long missionary and spiritual tradition exists that must be respected by the Church in France, which the Holy Father described as an "educator of peoples". Benedict XVI was speaking to the French bishops during their "ad limina visit" on Frday morning, 21 September 2012, at the Papal Residence in Castel Gandolfo.

2. Second Ad Limina Address to the Bishops of France
The Church bears the wisdom of Christ's message which makes it possible to find practical responses to the challenges of the present day. It is up to Christians to give voice to this message, the Pope said to the members of the French bishops' Conference, whom he received in Audience on Saturday, 17 November 2012, at the end of their "ad limina visit".

3. Third Ad Limina Address to the Bishops of France
On 30 November 2012, the Holy Father addressed the third group Bishops from the Conference of France, in Rome for their ad limina visit. The Pope advised the Bishops that misunderstanding the person of Christ and ignoring the value of his teaching means not understanding the content of the faith.